A surveillance payload owned by the National Reconnaissance Office soared into space Saturday from California on top of a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket, entering an unusual orbit not previously used by the US government’s spy satellite fleet. spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/19/del…pic.twitter.com/K6dxNPfMbf

United Launch Alliance has declared success on today’s flight from California, confirming the delivery of the Delta 4-Heavy rocket’s payload to orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office. This was the first of up to seven ULA missions planned this year. spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/19/liv…

The remainder of today’s mission will occur in secret due to a news blackout imposed by the National Reconnaissance Office. We’ll await an update from United Launch Alliance and the NRO later today on the outcome of the mission. spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/19/liv…

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The countdown has resumed as the Delta 4-Heavy is set to launch from California with a top secret spy satellite for the US government. Watch: spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/19/liv…

New launch time! The Delta 4-Heavy is now set to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 11:10am PST (2:10pm EST; 1910 GMT) after taking a few extra minutes to discuss technical issues. Those concerns have all been resolved. spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/19/liv…

The ULA team is evaluating surface winds at the Delta 4-Heavy’s launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base to assess if conditions are acceptable for launch at the opening of today’s launch window. spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/19/liv…

The first of up to seven United Launch Alliance missions planned this year was supposed to be the company’s last launch of 2018. A After overcoming a hydrogen leak, a Delta 4-Heavy rocket is set for liftoff Saturday from California with a US spy satellite. spaceflightnow.com/2019/01/18/fir…pic.twitter.com/deadJT0nax